First medical cannabis production license on the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man’s first license for the production of medical cannabis has been approved by the Gambling Supervision Commission of the island, which regulates the sector, and awarded to GrowLab Organics.

GrowLab would now be able to grow, extract, manufacture medical products, and import and export cannabis.

Business Minister Tim Crookall said that this approval «marks the dawn of a new economic sector.» He added that it would promote «high-value-added economic diversification,» create new jobs and training opportunities, and «encourage foreign investment.».

Applications to operate in the sector on the Isle of Man were opened last June.

Alex Fray, CEO of GrowLab, said the company plans to create more than 50 jobs over the next three years.

«The emerging cannabis industry is potentially the most exciting global development of this generation and has the potential to transform the quality of life for millions of people. GrowLab Organics» mission is to help people live better lives through the power of cannabis, while reducing the need to obtain cannabis from illicit sources for medical purposes.”

The medical marijuana is currently not available on the Isle of Man, and no general practitioners are registered to prescribe it. However, Karsons Pharmacy has been granted a license to import and distribute products to individuals with private prescriptions, which are paid for out-of-pocket and not reimbursed by the local healthcare system.